Denver, CO., April 10, 2014 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) partnership with Colorado’s Office of Emergency Management, the Town of Estes Park and Larimer County has reached the construction phase. The entities joined forces to provide recovery assistance to areas impacted by the 2013 floods utilizing NRCS’s Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program which is designed to relieve imminent hazard to life and property caused by flood, fires, storms and other natural disasters

“Within the past two years, Colorado has experienced some of the most destructive natural events in its history,” shares John Andrews, NRCS State Engineer and EWP Program Manager, Denver, CO. “From fire to flood to dust-storms, the need for the kind of emergency assistance EWP can provide in the state is massive and we’re pleased to be able to provide technical and financial assistance to some of the recovery efforts needed across the state.”

EWP is a federal program; however, it requires partnerships with local units of government to serve as sponsors. Entities like the State of Colorado, a County, a Municipality or some legal subdivision of one of those entities are eligible as well as Conservation Districts, Water Conservancy Districts, and Indian Tribes.

Estes Park Town Administration Frank Lancaster notes, “By sponsoring the EWP program locally and bringing NRCS expertise to their aid, we hope to give peace of mind to Estes Park residents with affected properties, and their neighbors.”

After a flood disaster, people and property adjacent to debris filled channels are at an increased risk of flooding from future storms. People and property may also be at risk where the flood caused the channel to move closer to roads, utilities, buildings and other improvements.

Although the need is great, EWP funding was not available to assist all those in need, however, the 41 projects sponsored by Estes Park and Larimer County represent the area’s most critical.

Larimer’s Assistant County Engineer Rusty McDaniel says “The County has worked with NRCS on both the High Park Fire and the 2013 flood, and NRCS is a great partner. Through our partnership we have been able to leverage our resources to add benefit to the citizens impacted by these disasters, and this makes sense for Larimer County.”

Construction for the numerous projects which may remove debris and sediment from streams, protect stream banks from further erosion, and repair damaged dikes and levee is slated for completion within the spring.

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